BAYARD — He’s been leading the Cobre High football team for a few years, and Jerry Martinez can still remember the first two times he played against Silver High in the annual rivalry game.

“Those first two years we had a lot of bumps in the road and took our beatings,” Martinez said. “But, we stuck to our guns and that paid off in the third year. Barely losing to Silver last year and getting into the state championship is something that this program has experienced.”

Martinez's Indians fell 53-6 and 49-6 to Silver in the first two contests under his direction. He then suffered a narrow defeat last season, 13-6. Martinez is ready to break the curse of the sixes and be competitive against his rivals.

“This program understands what it takes to be competitive year in and year out,” Martinez said. “We don’t want to ever go back to rebuilding a program, and the expectations are there of us competing with Silver. No one expected us to compete against them the first two years, but look at us now.”

Martinez said he feels like this game is going to be a chess match and doesn't expect a blowout.

“It’s going to be an exciting game to watch,” Martinez said. “But, at the same time, we aren’t going to let this game make or break our season.”

Cobre needs to win to lock up the district runner-up position and gain a top four seed in the state playoffs. A loss could send them into a lower seed. However, even after the loss last year, the Indians made a run into the state championship.

“That’s what makes our district tougher,” Martinez said. “Games like these. We all know that both Silver and us will be preparing for the playoffs after this game.”

From a personal standpoint, Martinez said he isn’t feeling any pressure except for the normal stuff he puts on himself as a head coach.

“It’s exciting, but at the same time I’m nervous,” Martinez said. “I feel like the team that will be the most successful will be the one that gets the nerves and jitters out first and it’s going to come down to the little things. It’s a rivalry game and everything is going to be magnified.”

Although Martinez isn’t looking for bragging rights if he wins this game, he wants a certain amount of respect for him, his coaching staff and his program.

“I don’t look at it to boast about the bragging rights,” Martinez said. “We try and carry ourselves with respect and class. There’s always next year if we lose. I’m shooting for the respect side of the outcome in this game.”